DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 11 



In identifying and studying the shore birds, experience and a 

 thorough knowledge of this class of birds, especially the smaller 

 members, is more necessary than for any other group. The 

 obvious reason being the striking similarity in size, coloration, 

 actions, and even notes. The Pectoral, White-rumped, Baird's, 

 Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers and the Sanderling are 

 really very similar and their identification consequently difficult. 



During 1923, of over 200 species of birds observed by me, 24 

 were shore birds, which is a larger number than I ever before 

 noted in any one year. This I think is due to two reasons — an 

 unusual abundance of these birds this year and a more than 

 ordinary amount of time spent in the field, especially along the 

 shore, though no less than 13 species were observed at Camden. 



From May 30 to September 30, I have taken some twenty 

 trips (not counting short excursions near home) mostly to the 

 New Jersey coast and eleven different members of the club have 

 taken part in these expeditions though on many I was alone. 



The White-rumped Sandpiper was a feature of the Club trip 

 to Cape May on Memorial Day. The bird was spotted on account 

 of slightly superior size among a flock of "Peeps" in the shallow 

 pond near the light-house, but was not identified with certainty 

 until it circled about directly in front of us, showing the white 

 upper tail coverts to perfection. This is the only field mark 

 which can be depended upon for definite identification and can 

 only be seen when the bird is flying directly away from or circling 

 about with its back to the observer. It must be remembered 

 that all the smaller Sandpipers show considerable white on the 

 sides of the rump. 



June 17 found J. D. Carter and myself at Brigantine Beach. 

 Compared with the year previous breeding birds were scarce. 

 Least Terns being the only ones equally abundant. Three Skim- 

 mers, a few Common Terns and two or three pairs of Piping 

 Plovers were noted. We searched diligently for the nest of the 

 Piping Plover but only succeeded in finding three eggs which had 

 been washed out of a nest. During a brief search back in the 

 marsh. Carter located a deserted Clapper Rail's nest full of eggs. 

 Quite a flock of Knots were seen on the beach at a distance. Knots 

 and Dowitchers might be mistaken for each other but at close 



